Whatever happened to Bengal's civil society activists?

KOLKATA: The civil society movement had a strong presence in Bengal. But down the years, the voice of protest has grown feeble. While Bengal completes its poll process that has had its fair share of controversies, TOI finds out what exactly has derailed the movement that once had a strong support from the intellectuals of the State.
Dhritiman Chaterji
Actor
First off, let me say that my faith in parliamentary democracy as practised in India has been waning for a long time.We boast of being one of the largest democracies in the world. Isn't it a damning irony, then, that we hardly have any democratic political parties, only personal fiefdoms?
We worry about the brutal and cynical challenge to the democratic system that the current elections in West Bengal are showing up. But the narrative is the same everywhere- the blatant bribing of voters in Tamil Nadu, the rape of the environment and majority appeasement in Goa... the political class is united in its contempt for and exploitation of the citizen.
The wilful abuse of democracy is reaching a point where civil society will have to struggle to regain its independence from the political class, the class which was meant to represent it.
The role of civil society activists in the future will be to demonstrate that party politics have made a mockery of democracy and to wrest that democracy from parties and restore it to the people of India.
Sanatan Dinda
Painter
I am an aware citizen and believe that everyone has the right to protest. During the Nandigram massacre, I had actively participated to oust the Left and bring Trinamool to power. We had no other option but to support Trinamool. But I have been let down. I haven't seen any real change in the past five years. Using the prime minister's fund to build roads can't be flaunted as TMC's work to improve infrastructure. You can't talk development by showing bridges, flyovers and shopping malls. Painting the city white and blue too doesn't work to impress us. The tax payers' money is being wasted to fund excess street lights. This is like a year-long carnival while people in the interiors are left unattended. What Mamata Banerjee did in the name of 'sobuj saathi' programme was to propagate her political agenda. Where are the tubewells that she had promised? The TMC propaganda song says 'jongolmahal haschhe'. But it's only the netas there who are smiling and not the common people. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had promised that those imprisoned would be set free. Instead, Chatradhar Mahato, on whom she rode piggyback to cash in on the Nandigram issue, has been awarded a lifeterm. Kishenji was allegedly killed in a counter attack. Where did change happen then?
When we had participated in the Nandigram movement, we had pledged to raise our voice if the party in power unleashed terror. By speaking out today, I am only keeping my promise.
Debesh Chattopadhyay
Theatre personality
I had walked in the biggest protest rally during the Nandigram crisis. This rally had no political colours. But it wasn't in support of Mamata Banerjee. Our civil society movement was later used by all political parties against the Left. I don't have a voter's card. Hence, there is no question of me casting vote in Mamata's favour.
Subodh Sarkar
Poet and professor
I had walked in a pro-Left march during Nandigram. Today, I feel ashamed for having been a part of that march. I also regret not having walked with my friends who protested the Nandigram killings. Those, who part protested the Nandigram massacre and have not warmed up to TMC, must be having personal reasons. Maybe, some of them are now pro-jot and back in the brigade. Some have said in their statements that they are disappointed with Mamata Banerjee. Personally, I have great respect for poet Sankha Ghosh. When he went to the Election Commissioner, he was joined by a painter and a playwright who had fought elections in the Congress and Left tickets respectively. Can I then say that Sankha Ghosh is apolitical?